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Canadians are concerned that Syrian refugees are getting preferential treatment in the immigration process, according to an exclusive poll conducted for CityNews by Forum Research.

“Canadians are compassionate, but also strictly fair, and hate queue jumpers,” said Lorne Bozinoff, the president and founder of Forum Research.

“There is a sense that these refugees are getting into Canada ahead of some other groups who may have been waiting as long, and that has an effect.”

In a random sampling of 1,369 Canadian voters, 54 per cent are concerned Syrian refugees invited to Canada will get preferential treatment in the immigration queue, and one third (34 per cent) are “very” concerned.

A higher level of concern is characteristic of those 45 to 54 year old (60 per cent), the least wealthy (63 per cent), in Alberta (69 per cent) and among Conservative voters (80 per cent) and among the least educated (66 per cent).

Those with the highest education had the least concerns, at 37 per cent, the poll found.

Meanwhile, Canadians are evenly split when it comes to the impact thousands of Syrian refugees will have on the country, the same poll found.

The random sampling showed that 34 per cent believe the refugees will have a positive impact on the country, with an equal 34 per cent also believing they will not have a positive impact.

Thirty-two per cent had no opinion.

Young, wealthy Canadians from Atlantic Canada were the most optimistic that refugees would have a positive impact.

The poll also found refugees were most welcome among Liberals and New Democrats.

Conservatives scored lowest when it came to their feelings about the refugees, with just 11 per cent believing they will have a positive impact, according to the poll.

“It appears that constant controversy over, not the refugees themselves, but the mechanics of getting them here, has eroded some of the traditional welcome Canadians extend to newcomers,” said Forum Research president Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.

Results are based on the total sample of 1,369 and are considered accurate plus-or-minus three per cent, 19 times out of 20.

On Wednesday, it was revealed that Canadians are nearly split on their support of the government’s plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees, with 48 per cent supporting the plan and 44 per cent opposing it.

And of those opposing the plan, the majority say the government should be focusing on problems within Canada, like homelessness.

Russ Holden

Beware of more than the usual traffic woes during Wednesday’s morning rush hour.

Hundreds of taxi drivers are participating in a protest against Uber, driving to downtown Toronto from various locations.

The drivers met at four locations: the Woodbine Centre at Rexdale Boulevard and Highway 27, Centrepoint Mall at Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue, Food Basics at Victoria Park and Sheppard avenues, and at the intersection of Queens Quay and Yonge.

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The taxis are expected to travel along Queen Street, University Avenue, Queen’s Park Crescent, Bay Street, and then back to Queen.

The routes planned are:

From Woodbine Centre: South on Highway 27, east on the Gardiner Expressway, north on University

From Centrepoint Mall: South on Yonge, west on King Street, north on University

From Food Basics: South on Victoria Park, onto Highway 401, south on the DVP to the Gardiner, through Jarvis Street and Richmond Street to University.

From Queens Quay and Yonge: West on Queens Quay, north on York Street or west on Queens Quay, north on Yonge, west on LakeShore Boulevard West, around Bathurst Street to the Billy Bishop airport, then back up to Adelaide Street to University.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Toronto Taxi Alliance (TTA) said they are not an organizer of the planned demonstration.

“While the TTA supports the aim of the demonstration, which is to encourage the City of Toronto to enforce the law with Uber’s illegal operations, it does not support any tactic which will disrupt traffic or transportation for Toronto drivers and residents.”

Canadian opinion on the Trudeau government’s plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees over the next few months is nearly split down the middle.

In an exclusive poll conducted by Forum Research for CityNews, almost 50 per cent of Canadians polled say they support the government’s plan to bring 25,000 refugees to Canada by the end of February.

Of the 1,369 Canadian voters asked, 48 per cent were in favour of the plan.

The number of those opposing the plan was 44 per cent. Less than one tenth have no opinion.

The numbers are almost the same in Ontario: 47 per cent support the plan, 45 per cent are opposed and two per cent don’t know.

Overall support is highest among the youngest (ages 18 to 34) at 55 per cent, mid-income groups at 57 per cent and in Atlantic Canada at 57 per cent.

Support is lower in the Prairies at 31 per cent, while 35 per cent of Albertans support it.

Only 19 per cent of Conservatives support the plan. Support is highest among Liberals at 68 per cent and New Democrats at 59 per cent. Sixty per cent of the people with post-graduate degrees support the plan.

Results are based on the total sample of 1,369 and are considered accurate plus-or-minus three per cent, 19 times out of 20.

According to the Toronto Star, the first mass arrival of 150 Syrian refugees will be coming to Pearson Airport on Thursday tomorrow. They’ll be arriving in a Royal Canadian Air Force jet, from a flight out of an airfield in Jordan.

The Yonge Street Mission is accepting winter outerwear donations for the refugees arriving in Toronto. See the tweet below for details.

Matlow says it’s time for Toronto to “dissociate” itself from the Trump brand.

“One way we can do that in Toronto is to see that the Trump Tower be renamed to virtually any other than a brand that is associated with somebody who has a history making comments targeting Mexicans in the past, calling them criminals and rapists, and most recently he’s targeted all Muslims in the world,” Matlow said.

“Donald Trump is no longer simply a silly clown who’s getting into fights with Rosie O’Donnell,” he added.

“He’s no longer The Apprentice. He’s one of the leading candidates for the presidency of the United States. And I believe that all decent people of the world are going to find ways to push back to make their voice known. and this is one way that we as Torontonians can say we don’t want Trump associated with our city any more.”

The high-rise at Bay and Adelaide streets is owned by Talon International Development Inc.

In an email to CityNews the PR company representing Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto said:

“The Trump Organization is the operator of the Hotel, not the owner. Donald Trump’s opinions as a private citizen in no way reflect the position of the company’s views or those of its other investors and owners.”

“At one point it was actually a very attractive brand,” Matlow said of the Trump name. “But it is now associated with an infamous bigot and I’m going to be presenting a case to them to do the right thing and I hope they hear me.”

Matlow added that he wouldn’t bring the issue up in city council.

Trump’s name did provide some comical relief on Monday night after one of the letters that adorns the high-rise burnt out, leaving RUMP.

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